Anthony Annan does not need to look far when it comes to playing in the established leagues in Europe and competing with the big names. At his new club, Schalke 04, he has both on his hands.

The Ghana international who joined German side, Schalke 04 from Norway's Rosenborg during the January transfer window has slotted in well for the Bundesliga side.

Annan insists he is happy to be playing his football in Germany despite suggestions he was not keen on going to Germany in the first place and is proud to be in the midst of a great group.

"The change is for me a great story. FC Schalke 04 is a great club with many great players. I am proud that I can play with Raul, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Christoph Metzelder, Manuel Neuer, Jefferson Farfan and many other strong football players together", he told the club's official website.

But it's not just the quality of players that has won Annan over. He has been impressed too with the German passion for football.

"The stadiums are much bigger and everything is very well organized. The audience figures are outstanding. In Norway there were 21,000 spectators, the stadium was sold out. In the Bundesliga, I'm lucky now to be able to regularly play in front of 60,000 fans," he said.